Napkin-holder.



H. H; ERICK.

NAPKIN HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1 09.

NTTED STATES omen,

HENRY H. ERICK, OF FRICKS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ERICK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF FRICKS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

NAPKIN-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. FRIoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fricks, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Napkin-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to napkin-holders and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and thoroughly eflicient device of this character adapted to be suspended from the neck of the wearer, and by means of which a napkin, bib, towel or similar article may be supported beneath the chin for the purpose of protecting the wearing ap parel.

A further object is to provide a napkinholder comprising a split circumferentially corrugated ring having oppositely disposed spring clamping members seated in the corrugation thereof and adapted to engage the napkin or bib to be supported.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the tension of the spring clamping members, and means for guiding the napkin beneath said clamping members.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a napkin-holder constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same showing a napkin supported in position thereon. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view partly in section of one of the spring clamping members or clips showing the manner of supporting the same on the ring. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved napkin-holder forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a supporting member 5 preferably in the form of a split metallic ring having its adjacent ends overlapped at 6 so as to permit the supporting member to be readily positioned on the neck of a person using the same. The supporting member or ring 5 is preferably formed of spring metal and is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 14, 1909.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 472,345.

provided with a circumferential corrugation 7 which serves to reinforce and strengthen the ring.

Seated in the corrugation 7 of the supporting member are oppositely disposed clamping members or clips 8 each including a shank 9 curved or bowed transversely to conform to and adapted to bear against the curved exterior Wall of the supporting member and to which it is secured by a bolt or rivet 10. That portion of each clip or clamping member in front of the rivet 10 is bent laterally to produce a shoulder 11 and thence deflected inwardly toward the supporting ring to form a spring clamping tongue 12 the terminal of which is deflected laterally at 13 to assist in guiding the napkin beneath said clamping member. The tongue 12 of the clamping member is also preferably corrugated to assist in strengthening the same, While the terminal lip 13 of the tongue normally and yieldably engages the concaved exterior wall of the supporting member so that when the napkin is positioned beneath the lip the tongue will press the napkin within the concaved portion of the supporting member and also in engagement with the spaced circumferential edges 14 of said supporting member, thereby to assist in pre- 1Zenting accidental displacement of the nap- As a means for regulating the tension of the spring clamping members or clips, the outer end of each shank is provided with a threaded perforation 15 for engagement with a correspondingly threaded screw 16, the latter being provided with a pointed terminal 17 adapted to bear against the adjacent concaved wall of the supporting member so that by adjusting the screw 16 the clip may be tilted on the rivet 10 and thus press the lip 13 firmly against the corrugated portion of the supporting member, it being of course understood that the rivet 10 will loosely engage the clip so as to permit a slight tilting movement of the clamping member when the screw 16 is adjusted. If desired, however, the screw 16 may be dispensed with and the clamping members or clips rigidly retained in position on the supporting member by a pair of rivets without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Attention is here called to the fact that the shanks 9 of the clamping members are disposed entirely within the concaved portion of the supporting member so as not to offer any obstruction to the napkin. It will also be noted that the overlapped ends of the supporting member are curved or rounded and deflected laterally at 18 to prevent injury to the neck of the wearer when positioning the supporting member thereon.

In using the device one longitudinal edge of the napkin is inserted beneath the clips or clamping members 12 and said edge drawn taut, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, after which the supporting member or ring is positioned on the neck of the wearer by grasping the overlapped ends of the ring and spreading the same laterally.

It will here be noted that by having the adjacent ends of the supporting member overlapped and arranged to be separated laterally the napkin may be properly positioned on the supporting member and said supporting member subsequently positioned on the neck of the wearer without the necessity of again adjusting the napkin on the holder.

The holders may be made in different sizes and shapes and nickeled, )lated or otherwise finished to give the same a neat ornamental appearance.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A napkin-holder comprising a split resilient circumferentially corrugated supportting meml er and oppositely disposed spring clamping members secured to and partially housed within the corrugation of said supporting member.

2. A napkin-holder comprising a split circumfcrentially corrugated supporting member, and oppositely disposed spring clamping members each provided with a shank secured to and entirely housed within the corrugation of the supporting member and having its opposite ends formed with a terminal lip for engagement with a napkin.

3. A napkin-holder comprising a split circumferentially corrugated supporting memher, a spring clamping member seated within the corrugated portion of the supporting member, and means for adjusting the tension of said clamping member.

4. A napkin-holder comprising a split circumferentially corrugated ring having its adjacent ends overlapped and the terminals thereof bent laterally, and oppositely disposed spring clamping members secured to and partially housed within the corrugation of the ring.

5. A napkin-holder comprising a split circumferentially corrugated ring having its adjacent ends overlapped, spring clamping members secured to the exterior wall of the ring and each provided with a shank curved to conform to and seated within the adjacent corrugated portion of the ring, the opposite end of each clamping member being off set and thence extended inwardly toward the body of the ring to produce a spring tongue terminating in a laterally deflected lip.

G. A napkin-holder including a split resilient supportingmember concavo-convex in cross section and having its adjacent ends overlapped spring clips secured to the concaved wall of the supporting member and each provided at one end with a shank entirely housed within said concaved portion and at its opposite end with a spring tongue terminating in a laterally extending lip, a fastening device for securing the shank of each clip to the supporting ring, and an adjusting screw threaded in each shank and provided with a pointed terminal arranged to bear against the adjacent concaved wall of the ring for adjusting the tension of the spring lip.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN LESHER. 

